Loop-transferring device



C. J., C. T. A. AND 1.0. SIBBALD. LOOP TRANSFERRING DEVJCE' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1919 1 ,353,793. Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

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T allwizom it may concern:

Be it known that we,,CHAnLns J. SIBBALD,

' CHARLES T. A. SIBBALD, and JOHN O. SIB- BALD, citizens of the United States, residing at 769 Third'avenue, Troy, in. the county of Rensselaer andSta-te of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loop-Transferring Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of and means for transferringthe stitches from a knitting machine and assembling such stitches for unitingby a 'looper' or sewing machine. I

The invention is particularly applicable 7 to closing the toe-pocket formed on the foot portion of a sto'cking, and the meansem .ployed are engaged with the loops-or stitches of the final course of the article and removed bodily from the knitting" machine. Themeans is adapted to arrange the loops or stitches of one-half ofsuch final course in predetermined relation with the stitches of the other half ofsuch course, so that opposed stitches or loops are ali'ned, The alined v loops or stitches are then picked up on hold ing pins or points, each pin engaging a pair'of loops, and 'the transferring' means separated from such loops. The loops of the final knitted course of'the article are thus brought together and may be connected by further knitting or stitching as desired.

The method is concerned with the bodily transfer of the article from the knitting machine with the loops of the final course each independentlyheld; the arrangement of such loops in alined pairs to close the opening; and the transferring of such ali'ned' loops, together onto a, holding device by which they are maintained in proper relative positions for ,finalsecuring.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a broken sectional view, illusQ trating the application of the transferring device to a circular knitting machine, "the" loops of the final course being" shown in some instances in positions on the fingers of the transferring device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the transferring device and ring carrier therefor.-

Fig. 3 is a similar viewof both. sections of the transferring device removed from the carrier and in position to close the article opening by bringing the opposed loops together.

. Specification of Letters Patent. Patent Application filed June 18, 1919. Serial N0."3O 5,O5 2.'; j

Jenn. mam, for TROY, i

a Sept. 21, 920.

Fig. 4: is aidetail view: of'a modified form of the invention. 7

is made up'of two-identical sections; each comprising a 'resillent or .flexlble strip 1, to which, are securedthe transferring fingers. These fingers each include a -rectangular block-end 2, from which the finger extends .In the-"drawings, thetransferri-ng device in a return bend at'3, and depends in aJquill 1 portion 4', in'parallelism with and extendmg below the block-end2. The quill 'port1on dis grooved on the inner side, as at "5, to' recelveor cooperate withthe needle 6 of the knitting machine, and is I terminally reduced t'o a fine edge or point.

when bent'into semi -circular form and ar- 7 'Th'e'strips li'are each of such length that ranged end to endthey will provide a circular member corresponding to that ofthe needle plane ofithe knitting machine, as

shown in Fig.2. The fingers are securedto the'strips lwith their block ends-incontact, the'blockends being preferably slitted as at 7 to permitthesecuringof the same to the strips. Each section of the transferring device is thus made up of a series of fingers, corresponding in number to one-half the number of needles of the machine, with the block ends of such fingers in contact land supported on a resilient strip t o-permit ar-- ranging the fingersin circular form.

For applicatioi'l, in v the transferring 'operati'on, the respective sections of'thetrans" ferring device are, when arranged'in circular' form, held-in suchff'ojrm bya ring carrier 8, havingan annular wall 9 against which the block-ends 'ofth'e fingers bear to maintain the circular relationof the 'transferring sections. The lower edge of the c'arrier ring hasfan' outstan'din'g ledge 10 to support the transferring sections, movable ring holdin'gthe sections in place.

"WVith the transferring sections in circularform in' the ring carrier, the device is'aplatches 11 carried by the upper edge of the V plied to a knitting machine, eachfinger -co.-

operating with a needle 8,-and passing throughthe loop l2'of the final course of the knitted article; Thesai'd loops 12 are then moved upwardly by hand onto the quill'sd,

the needles 6 resting in the grooves 5 of the quills. The loops 12 are preferably carried onto the return bent portions 3 of the fingers. When all loops 12 have been so transferred, the device is removed with the an then brought into use,

ticle, and each loop 12 is on a separate finger of the transferring device.

If preferred after*application of the transferrlng device through such loops 12,

owing to the inherent resiliency of the strip 1 will straighten out into an elongated plane member, each carrying one-half the stitches or loops of the final course of the fabric.

The transferring sections are then arranged in parallelism, with the quill portions of the respective fingers in contact. This alines opposed loops 12 of the article, so that a pair of such loops are substantially together. A holder comprising a bar 13, having appropriately formed points 14 is each rod being passed through each pair of alined loops asshown. The return bent portion, 3 of each finger is preferably longitudinally recessed at 15 to permit the convenient passage of the ends of the points through the loops.

With the opposed loops in pairs on the holder points, the fingers of the transferring sections are separated from the loops, by turning each section in succession and slid ing the quill portion of the fingers from engagement with the loops, and the said loops are left on the points, each rod engaging both opposed loops of the final knitted course of the fabric. The opening is thus closed, its edges being formed by the loops on the points, and in this position, such juxtaposed loops may be knitted together, stitched or otherwise connected.

The fingers could'be supported on hinged sections, as shown in Fig. 4, which will form a flexible structure and accomplish the result described in connection, with the pre ferred form of the invention. In this figure, 20, indicates links, hinged; together at 21, and supporting the fingers as at 23.

Claims:

1. The herein described method of arranging the loops of the final course of a knitted article in a relation to be secured together to close the opening of such course; consisting in providing means for and transferring by such means the final loops in circular outline from the knitting machine, arranging such loops while on said trans ferring means to position opposed loops of such final course adjacent to each other in pairs, and finally providing means for and removing by such means each pair of loops separately from the transferring means and holding such pairs of loops in relation and position for final securing together.

'2. A transferring device for knitted articles, comprising two normally straight sections, fingers carried by the sections to engage the needles and receive the loops, and a ring carrier in which said sections may be held to circular form.

3. A transferring device comprising two sections, each including a resilient normally straight strip, blocks arranged on' each strip and held against other than a sliding movement thereon, a knitting needle engaging finger secured to each block, said finger receiving the loops from the needles, and a ring carrier in which the blocks are positioned to hold the strips in circular form.

4. A transferring device comprising two sections, each including a straight strip, knitting needle engaging fingers secured to such strip, said fingers receiving the loops from the needles, and each finger having a curved portion adjacent the strip and a quill projecting from such curved portion, and a ring carrier in which said strips may be held in circular form, the quill of each finger being grooved to receive the needle of the knitting machine.

5. A transferring device for knitted articles, comprising two resilient sections, fingers carried by the sections to engage the needles and receive the loops, and a ring carrier in which said sections may be held to circular form.

6. A transferring device for knitted articles comprising a plurality of fingers, means for supporting the fingers to permit of the same being arranged in circular form or collapsed to bring one-half the number of fingers adjacent the remaining half of the fingers, and a ring carrier in which the fingers may be held to circular form.

7. A transferring device for knitted articles comprising a plurality of fingers, means for supporting the fingers in circular form to take off all the loops from the needles of a knitting machine, and to permit of the plurality of fingers being collapsed to form straight parallel rows, the fingers in one row bearing against the fingers of the adjacent row, whereby to permit of the insertion of a plurality of points to remove all the gathered loops from the fingers.

In testimony-whereof we affix our signatures.

CHARLES J. SIBBALD. CHARLES T. A. SIBBALD. JOHN O. SIBBALD.

Witnesses 1' g H. J. MARTIN, J. B. RANsoM. 

